Coming out of the mountains we rounded a bend as we drove toward the Salinas Valley. We stopped to enjoy the view, which included patches of golden poppies, perhaps the most regal of California wildflowers, were sparse here. Those in bloom we could see were, already closed for the day, because a cool wind was blowing down the canyon. Mustard, though, grew in profusion, and captured our attention as we gazed up at the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains.